Wall frame prefabrication apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus is described for prefabricating wall frames for wooden frame buildings. The apparatus includes a table having a layout area upon which the frames are assembled. Means are provided on the layout area for holding a pair of flexible metal templates at locations on the layout area at which indicia on the templates will establish the locations on the upper and lower wall frame plates where studs and the like are to be nailed to them. A saw guide at one end of the table is aligned with a marking on one of the templates representative of one end of a wall, and a lumber stop member is adjustable along such template for alignment with a marking on the template representative of the other end of the wall. Such arrangement enables lumber pieces to be cut on the table to provide wall plates of a proper length.

United States Patent Schneider [15] 3,680,617 Aug. 1,1972

[54] WALL FRAME PREFABRICATION APPARATUS [22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1970 [21]Appl. No.: 62,564

3,371,921 3/1968 Hollomon et al ..144/288 R Primary Examiner-Harrison L.Hinson Attorney-C. Michael Zimmerman [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus isdescribed for prefabricating wall frames for wooden frame buildings. Theapparatus includes a table having a layout area upon which the framesare assembled. Means are provided on the layout area for holding a pairof flexible metal templates at locations on the layout area at whichindicia on the templates will establish the locations on the upper andlower wall frame plates where studs and the like are to be nailed tothem. A saw guide at one end of the table is aligned with a marking onone of the templates representative of one end of a wall, and a lumberstop member is adjustable along such template for alignment with amarking on the template representative of the other end of the wall.Such arrangement enables lumber pieces to be cut on the table to providewall plates of a proper length.

11 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUMM; I m2 SHEU 1 OF 3 ii .chmlderATTMQEY PATENTED NIB 1 I972 SHEEI 2 0F 3 I f 2 1.5mm Eredric 91.Schneider ATTORNEY WALL FRAME PREFABRICATION APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The cost of labor represents a major expense in theconstruction of wooden frame buildings such as houses and garden-typeapartments. For this reason, building contractors are turning toassembly-line techniques in larger construction projects in order toexpedite the building erection and thus minimize the overall labor cost.For example, it is now common in the construction of framed apartmentsor tract housing to prefabricate the frames for walls and transport thecompleted wall frames to their proper. position for erection rather thanassemble each individual wall frame at its location as is ordinarilydone in smaller construction projects. However, the presentprefabrication methods leave much to be desired. Most often, the wallprefabrication is carried out at several dif ferent locations. That is,the wall plates (upper and lower horizontal frame members) are generallycut to the required length for each separate wall section at onelocation and then transported to another at which they are marked toindicate the places on each at which studs, headers, cripples, etc. areto be secured thereto. The plates are then transported to an assemblyand nailing table where the required studs and other wall members aresecured between them to provide the wall frame.

It will be appreciated that the transportation of the various membersfor a wall frame between the locations at which the individualoperations are carried out represents non-productive time. That is, thetransporta tion time does not show up as a part of the finished product.Furthermore, coordination and scheduling are required to assure thatthose involved in each of the separate operations are kept busy and thatthe plates and the like are cut to lengths and marked in the propersequence to match the nailing schedule. In order to minimizemiscalculations and errors in this scheduling, a relatively highlyskilled and, therefore, more expensive labor force must be used in theoperation. Thus, while the present wall frame prefabrication methods arean improvement over non-prefabrication methods used in smaller,customized building construction, they are lacking in several respects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a wall frameprefabrication apparatus which enables the completion in a simple mannerand at one location of a majority of the operations required for theconstruction of a wall frame. Moreover, it completely eliminates thenecessity of marking on each plate the various locations at which studsand cripples and the like are to be secured thereto.

In its basic aspects, the invention comprises a table defining a layoutarea for the assembly and nailing of a wall frame. As a particularlysalient feature of the invention, it includes means for positioning apair of templates having indicia representative of a wall frame to befabricated, at spaced generally coextensive locations on the layout areaadjacent to the locations at which upper and lower wall plates are to bepositioned on the layout area. Lumber stops are provided on the tablefor positioning the plates at their locations so that the indicia on thetemplates will establish the positions on the plates at which wallstuds, cripples, headers-and the like are to be secured therebetween.Because of this relationship of the pair of templates to the wallplates, it is not necessary to mark the plates themselves to indicatewhere studs and the like are to be secured between them. The templatemarkings serve this purpose.

Most desirably, the table also includes means facilitating the cuttingat the table of the plates to the required wall lengths. That is, a sawguide is located on the table at a location at which it will direct asaw across the table in a path which is in alignment with indicia on oneof the templatesindicating the end of a wall. Thus, a hand-held or othersaw arrangement can be used with the guide to cut boards to a lengthcommensurate with the wall length indicated on the template. In thisconnection, the apparatus also desirably includes a stop member whoseposition is adjustable on the table along the template for alignmentwith indicia thereon indicating the opposite end of a wall. The stopmember thereby acts to locate the opposite end of a board to be cut toprovide the plate of the desired length.

The invention also includesv a wall plate template which is especiallyadapted for use with the layout table and facilitates the constructionat the table of plurality of different walls. The template. comprises anelongated and flat tape having a sufficient length for the markingthereon of several different walls. This template is-premarked withindicia representative of the distance commonly provided betweenadjacent studs of a wall frame, e.g., sixteen inch centers, as well aswith indicia representative of equal dimensional sections or componentsnormally used in construction, such as markings every four feet alongthe tape. The template is also flexible in its lengthwise direction sothat it can be rolled up or coiled when not in use to facilitatetransportation and storage.

The inclusion in the combination of this tape template enables theapparatus to be converted from a set up for one wall to a set up foranother in a quick and simple manner, the details of which will becomeclearer hereinafter. Moreover, the premarking of the template with the16 inch centers and into equal dimensional sections eliminates thenecessity of much of the marking now normally required on templates asthey are marked for a particular wall.

The wall frame prefabrication apparatus of the invention includes otherfeatures and advantages which will become apparent from the following,more detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferredembodiment of the wall frame prefabrication apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an' enlarged and partial isometric view of that portion oftheapparatus of FIG. 1 encircled by the line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken on a planeindicated by the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on a planeindicated by the line4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the preferred flexible template useablewith the invention; and

FIGS. 6 through 8 are schematic cross-sectional views illustratingoperation of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT horizontal surfaceproviding a rectangular wall frame layout area 13. More particularly,the table comprises a plurality of legs, one of which is partially shownat 14 in 'FIG. 2, supporting a rectangular frame made up of end railmembers 16 securing together elongated side panels 17 (FIG. 2).to definethe layout area. A cross-rib l8 and truss member 19 are provided toassure structural rigidity of the table.

- Layout area 13 should have a width sufficient to enable assemblythereon of a wall frame with the height dimension of the frame beingalong the width dimension of the layout area. Walls are conventionallymade 8 feet high-and to accommodate such conventional walls the widthdimension of the table should be at least 8 feet. Preferably, the lengthof the table is sufficient to accommodate on the table the full lengthof the walls to be fabricated. Several table sections can be fittedtogether to provide the requisite length if desired.

Nailing machine guides 21 are secured along each side edge of the tableand project upwardly a short distance above the'table layout area. Theguides 21 include removable means for preventing the dropping over theedge of the table of wall frame plates laid on the layout area justinwardly of such guides. That is, a plurality of 'pinsor bolts 22 extendupwardly from spaced locations along the upper edge of each of theguides. Each of the bolts 22 is received within an associated borewithin the guide of which it is a part to enable removal of such boltsso that the guides can be used as guides or runners for a hand-operatednailing machine or the like as will be discussed in more detailhereinafter.-

- As a particularly salient feature of the instant invention, itincludes means enabling the proper assembly of a wall frame on thelayout area 13 without requiring marking of the wall plates to indicatewhere studs, cripples, etc. are to be secured thereto. That is, theapparatus includes means for positioning a pair of templates at spaced,generally co-extensive locations adjacent and generally parallel to thepositions on the layout area for the upper and lower plates of a wallframe to be assembled. To this end, two pair 23 and 24 of wall lower andupper template guide rails extend along each side edge of the layoutarea 13 inwardly of the nailing guide 21. The guide rails of each pair23 and 24 define channels 26 and 27, respectively, for receivingtemplates 28 and 29 having as in conventional indicia representative ofthe layout for a wall frame, i.e., indicia along their lengths suitablylabeled and spaced to indicate the ends of a wall and the locationsbetween ends at which studs, cripples and headers are to be secured tothe wall plates. The indicia foreach wall to be assembled are providedon both of the templates 28 and 29. With this arrangement when theindicia for a wall onone 'of the templates are aligned with thecorresponding indicia on the other template, the indicia will representand show the markings normally pro-.

vided on the upper and lower plates of a wall frame. As is apparent fromFIG. 1, the templates are positioned at locations just inwardly of thelocations on the layout area at which the plates are to be situated forassembly of the frame. Thus, by aligning the studs and the like with theindicia on the templates, the studs will meet with the plates at theproper location for the frame astionally done. The savings in time bythe elimination of this marking operation can be appreciable, especiallywhen a plurality of identical walls all requiring the same plate markingare needed in the construction.

While conventional wood templates are useable with the layout table ofthe invention, most desirably the templates are ones which aresufficiently long to accommodate markings for more than one wall and yetwhich require a minimum of space, for storage and the like. Theinvention includes as a part of the combination templates providingthese characteristics. More particularly, each of the templates 28 and29 is an elongated metal tape which is flexible in its lengthwisedirection to permit coiling thereof into a roll. Metal tape of the typenormally used for venetian blind slats is particularly useful for thispurpose. Such tape includes a slight curvature in its transversecross-section, which curvature tends to maintain the tape in a flatcondition but which can be overcome to coil the tape.

in order to make use of the desirable characteristics of the templates28 and 29 as described, two pair of spools 31, 32 and 33, 34 areassociated with each of the templates 28 and 29, respectively, and areprovided at opposite ends of the table for holding and feeding tem-rplates across the layout area. Each spool is secured to the table at alocationimmediately below and beyond the layout area for rotation on agenerally horizontal axis and has a crank handle 36 secured thereto tofacilitate its rotation by an operator. lndicia for a plu rality ofwalls'can be successively laid out: along the length of each template,and the template then coiled onto a spool. By drawing each templateacross the table layout area from one of its spools to the otherafterthe required number of wall frames of one particular layoutarrangement are assembled and nailedtogether, the markings on each tapefor another wall frame can be advanced from the spools onto the layoutarea into the proper position for assembling frames conforming to thesecond layout arrangement. It will be appreciated that because of thespool and flexible tape arrange ment, numerous wall layouts can beprovided on the templates in contrast to the layout for only one wall asis conventionally done with wood templates.

The positioning means for situating each of the tem plates on the layoutarea also includes means for properly locating the indicia for each wallin alignment with corresponding indicia on the other template and at theproper locations on the layout area for the assembly of the wall. As isbest illustrated in FIG. 2 for template 28, such means includes for eachof the templates a hairline marker 37 at one end of the layout area 13and which is alignable with a marking on its associated taperepresentative of the end of a wall. The hairline markers 37 aredesirably inscribed lines on transparent plates 38 of, for example,glass or plastic which are supported over the path of travel of thetemplates 28 and 29 by support blocks 39 which are in turn secured toend plates 41 on the table comers. Each marker or inscribed line 37extends transversely of its associated template for alignment with acorresponding line marking on the tape.

Holding means are provided for locking the templates in position oncethe appropriate wall end marking on the templates 28 and 29 are alignedwith the hairline markers 37. For this purpose, a vice grip pliersarrangement 42 is secured to the plate 41 with its gripping jaws 43 onopposite sides of the path of its associated template to grip the sameand lock it into position with respect to the plate 41 and, hence, theremainder of the table layout area.

Means are also provided for facilitating minor movements of thetemplates to obtain precise alignment of a marking on the templates withthe hairlines 37. As shown in connection with template 28, the templateseach pass over a template micrometer adjustment wheel 44 which ismounted for axial rotation on a journal pin 46 which extends outwardlyof an angle iron flange 47 secured to the underneath surface of plate41. An operator aligning indicia with the hairline 37 can grasp thewheel and slowly rotate it and the portion of the template passingthereover to provide movement of the template in the direction necessaryto obtain the desired alignment.

The tape alignment and gripping mechanism 48 for tape 49 is identicalwith that described with respect to tape 28 and therefore will not bedescribed in detail. It is to be noted, though, that the hairlinemarkers for each of the tapes are in alignment transversely of the tableso that if one positions the end wall indicia for a particular wall onboth tapes with their associated line markers 37, the othercorresponding marks on the tapes such as the stud markings 49, will alsobe in alignment.

Means are also provided for aligning the ends of wall templatesthemselves as well as the end stud of the wall frame to be assembled,with the hairline markers 37. More particularly, an elongated 'stop inthe form of an angle iron 51 is secured to table end member 16 inwardlyof the location on the layout area of the tape guide rails 23. Angleiron 51 presents a face in align ment with the hairline marker 37 forabutment by the end wall stud of the frame, as well as for anotherpurpose to be described hereinafter. Additional stops in the form ofangle iron tabs 52 are provided on tape alignment and gripping mechanism48 for aligning the end of a plate with the hairline markers 37 and theopposite end of the stud forming the end of the wall frame beingassembled.

Means are also provided on layout area 13 which cooperate with template28 to enable the cutting on the table of lumber to the required lengthto provide wall plates. In this connection, a lumber stop and carriagearrangement, generally referred to by the reference numeral 56, isadjustably positionable along the length of template 28 to facilitatepositioning the ends of lumber pieces to be cut for the wall plates atindicia on the tape marking the end of a wall frame. More particularly,template 28 is encompassed by a channel 57 which defines a track for thecarriage and stop arrangement. As is illustrated in FIG. 4, the carriageand stop arrangement 56 includes a pair of wheels 58 which ride on theupper end surfaces of the legs of channel track 57. Such wheels 58 aremounted on an axle 59 which is, in turn, journaled for rotation withinbearings 51 secured to the main body of the carriage. As is shown, axle59 extends from the carriage beyond the nailing guide 21 and terminatesin a hand wheel 62 for rotation by an operator. It will be apparentthatupon the operator rotating hand wheel 52, the wheels 58 will be rotatedon the channel track 57 to translationally move the carriage arrangement56 along the track.

The stop and carriage arrangement 56 includes means for locking thecarriage at any desired location along the track 57. That is, withreference to FIG. 3 of the drawing, flanges 63 and 64 depend fromunderneath surface of the carriage on opposite sides of the track to aidin guiding the carriage along the track, and a levered vise mechanismcooperates with the flange 63 to provide the desired locking. Mechanism66 includes a lever 67 which is pivotally supported at 68 for limitedvertical movement in the directions indicated by arrow 69. A flange orjaw 71 on the end of lever 67 closest to flange 63 rides inside thechannel 57 at a location at which pivoting of the free end of the leverdownward will result in such flange and the stop 63 pressing betweenthem the leg 72 of channel track 57 to lock the carriage at a desiredposition. A crank operated bolt 73 threadably received through the freeend of lever 67 engages the carriage so that upon rotation thereof,crank 67 is pivoted to either engage or release channel leg 72 dependingon the direction of rotation of bolt 73.

Carriage and stop mechanism 56 includes a lumber stop which is alignablewith a marking on the template 28 indicating the end of awall frame toposition at such mark the ends of boards to be cut for wall plates. Thatis, a stop plate 76 on the front end of the carriage extendstransversely over channel track 57 for alignment with such a marking.The stop plate will position at the marking the ends of boards laid onthe template guides 23 and abutted against it.

Saw guides means are provided for directing a saw such as an electrichand held saw schematically represented at across the table layout areawith its blade in alignment with hairline marker 37. For this purpose,an elongated guide rail 77 is supported by a post above the hairlinemarker 37 and extends inwardly of the layout area therefrom. Guide rail77 is in the form of an angle iron having a vertical leg 78 providingthe desired guide for the saw. While the particular guide rail 77 isdesigned for the guidance of a hand held electric saw such as the saw75, it will be appreciated that guide arrangements for other types ofsaws could also be provided. For example, in a permanent installation itmay be desired to use a radial saw for cutting of the wall plates. Theguide would then take the form of the radial arm of such a saw.

The manner in which the prefabrication apparatus of the inventionfacilitates the construction of wall frames will now be described. Priorto the time that it is actually desired to construct a wall frame, thetemplates 28 and 29 are marked with the dimensions and constructiondetails of a plurality of walls derived from a plan illustrating theplates and cooperating building elements which are to be joined in theconstruction of the building. While in order to best utilize theapparatus of the invention, two templates should be marked as opposed toone as is conventionally done, the additional time required for themarking of the second template is more than offset by the time other-.wise saved by the apparatus. This is especially true when the templatesused with the invention are flexible tape templates since the handlingof separate wooden templates and the individual marking of the same foreach wall requires an appreciable amount of time.

After the templates are marked, they are wound on the spools 31 -34 witha portion of each extending through the template positioning channels 26and 27, respectively. Then when it is desired to actually construct thewalls, the markings'on each of the tapes for an end of a particularwall, such as the wall numbered 26 in'FIG. 2, are properly aligned withthe hairline markers-37, and the grips 42 are actuated to maintain thetemplates in position. Carriage and stop. arrangement 56 is thentranslationally moved along template 28 to align stop plate 76 thereofwith indicia on such template indicating the other end of the wall. Thestop and carriage arrangement is locked in this position in the mannerdescribed earlier.

Two pieces of lumber, e.g., 2 X 4 boards, for the upper and lower platesfor the desired wall frame are then brought into position against stopplate 76 and laid over the template guides 23. FIG. 6 schematicallyillustrates the location at which pieces of lumber denoted by thereference numeral 81 are positioned for the sawing operation. Then a sawis guided through the lumber by saw guide rail 77, thereby automaticallycutting the boards to the proper length for the plates. Each of theplates is then turned on its side, and one is laid against the nailguide 21 adjacent to template 28 and the other placed adjacent thenailing guide on the other side of the layout area. The plate associatedwith the template 281s positioned longitudinally of the table in properalignment with the .template by the same stop plate 76 used to positionthe end of the lumber for the cutting operation. The other plate, theupper plate for the wall,

- is positioned against one of the stop tabs 52, (FIG. 1) in order toproperly align the same with the indicia on the template 29. Then thestuds, cripples, etc. can be positioned between the plates in theirproper locations by aligning the same with the indicia on the templatesrepresentative of their proper locations. Then to complete the assemblyof the wall frame, it is only necessary to nail the wall plates to thevarious studs, such as by removing the bolts 22 from the nailing guides21 and running an automatic nailing machine along such guides.

The wall frame is thus completed without cutting and marking of theplates at diflerent locations and then bringing them to an assemblytable. All of these operations are combined on the one table toeliminate most of the lumber handling, as well as the marking operation.1

Although the instant invention is designed to eliminate the necessity ofmarking plates, in some instances it is more desirable that the platesbe marked, such as when it is necessary to construct walls at the actuallocation at which they are to be placed rather than to prefabricatethem. To facilitate such a marking operation, the invention alsoincludes means for the marking at one time of a plurality of plates.That is, carriage and stop arrangement 56 includes a straight edgemarker 82 which is secured to the carriage at a location above the stopplate 76 and in alignment therewith. As

is best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8, straight edge marker 82, formed byan angle iron, extends inwardly of the table from the carriagearrangement and at a height at which it is usable as a guide for amarking pencil or the like to mark the side edges of a plurality ofplates 83 (FIG. 3). It will be appreciated that in order to transfer theindicia on the template 28 to the plates with this arrangement it ismerely necessary to slide the stop and carriage arrangement 56 along thetemplate, and at each position at which the stop plate 76 is alignedwith a mark on the template, make the same mark on the plate with theaid of the straight edge 82.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flexible template of the inventionespeciallyadapted for use with the prefabrication apparatus. More particularly,such template, in addition to having the features described above inconnection with the templates 28 and 29, also is premarked with indicia84 representative of the distances commonly provided between adjacentstuds of a wall frame. Most often, such distance is 16 inches and theindicia are referred to as 16 inch centers. The tape also includesindicia 86 representative of equi-dimensional sections or componentsquite often utilized in locating the posi tion of elements relative towall plates. For example, the indicia 86 can be spaced at 4 footintervals, an interval commonly used.

While the invention has been described with respect to preferredapparatus, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the arts that manychanges and modifications are possible within its scope. For example,although a fairly simply made embodiment of the invention facilitatinghandling and transportation of it ata job site has been described, amore permanent embodiment incorporated into an assembly line or the likeat a prefabrication plant or the like could also be made.

I claim:

1. Wall frame prefabrication apparatus for use with a pair of elongatedtemplates having a plurality of different wall frames successively laidout along their lengths on corresponding sections of each, comprising atable defining a surface providing a wall frame layout area; positioningmeans for situating corresponding sections of said pair of templates atspaced, generally coextensive locations across said layout area withindicia on each template representative of a first wall frame to befabricated in alignment with corresponding indicia on the other templatefor the prefabrication of said first wall frame; lumber stop means forpositioning upper and lower wall plates on said layout area at spacedlocations which are generallyparallel to the 10- cations for saidtemplates and at which indicia on templates situated by said positioningmeans establish locations on said plates for the securance thereto ofwall studs and the like for said first wall frame; and means foradvancing said templates lengthwise over said layout area to properlyposition other corresponding sections thereof having indiciarepresentative of a second wall frame across said layout area withcorresponding indicia thereof in alignment for the prefabrication ofsaid second wall frame.

2. The wall frame prefabrication apparatus of claim 1 wherein saw guidemeans are provided for directing a saw across said table layout area ata predetermined location adapted to have indicia on one of saidtemplates indicative of the end of a wall positioned in alignmenttherewith for cutting at said location a board to provide a plate of adesired wall length.

3. The wall frame prefabrication apparatus of claim 2 wherein said stopmeans includes a stop member which is adjustably positionable along atemplate for the positioning thereof in alignment with indicia on saidtemplate indicative of the opposite end of said wall for properlylocating the end of a board to be cut to provide said plate of thedesired wall length.

4. The wall frame prefabrication apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidpositioning means for situating said pair of templates includes for eachof said templates a hair-line marker on said table alignable withindicia on its associated template.

5. The wall frame prefabrication apparatus of claim 4 wherein holdingmeans are provided for locking said templates in position on said layoutarea.

6. The wall frame prefabrication apparatus of claim 1 wherein each ofsaid pair of flexible tape templates having indicia along their lengthsrepresentative of a plurality of wall frames to be fabricated areflexible.

7. The wall frame prefabrication apparatus of claim 6 wherein each ofsaid flexible templates is metal and includes a curvature in itstransverse cross-section when flat which tends to maintain the templatein said flat condition but which is overcomeable for coiling of suchtemplate.

8. The wall frame prefabrication apparatus of claim 7 wherein said meansfor advancing said templates over said layout area includes spools aboutwhich said templates are coilable at opposite ends of said table forholding and feeding each of said templates across said layout area forthe successive location on said layout area of said indiciarepresentative of said plurality of wall frames.

9. The wall frame prefabrication apparatus of claim 8 wherein saidpositioning means for situating said templates includes for each of saidtemplates a hair-line marker on said table alignable with indicia on itsassociated template.

10. The wall frame prefabrication apparatus of claim 9 wherein each ofsaid flexible templates passes over a micrometer adjustment wheelsecured to said table for providing accurate alignment of indicia oneach of said tapes with its associated hairline marker.

11. The wall prefabrication apparatus of claim 10 wherein said lumberstop means is adjustably positionable along one of said templates andincludes a marking straight-edge moveable therewith and located overpositions for a plurality of plates for marking thereon the studlocations established by said indicia on said template.

1. Wall frame prefabrication apparatus for use with a pair of elongatedtemplates having a plurality of different wall frames successively laidout along their lengths on corresponding sections of each, comprising atable defining a surface providing a wall frame layout area; positioningmeans for situating corresponding sections of said pair of templates atspaced, generally coextensive locations across said layout area withindicia on each template representative of a first wall frame to befabricated in alignment with corresponding indicia on the other templatefor the prefabrication of said first wall frame; lumber stop means forpositioning upper and lower wall plates on said layout area at spacedlocations which are generally parallel to the locations for saidtemplates and at which indicia on templates situated by said positioningmeans establish locations on said plAtes for the securance thereto ofwall studs and the like for said first wall frame; and means foradvancing said templates lengthwise over said layout area to properlyposition other corresponding sections thereof having indiciarepresentative of a second wall frame across said layout area withcorresponding indicia thereof in alignment for the prefabrication ofsaid second wall frame.
 2. The wall frame prefabrication apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein saw guide means are provided for directing a saw acrosssaid table layout area at a predetermined location adapted to haveindicia on one of said templates indicative of the end of a wallpositioned in alignment therewith for cutting at said location a boardto provide a plate of a desired wall length.
 3. The wall frameprefabrication apparatus of claim 2 wherein said stop means includes astop member which is adjustably positionable along a template for thepositioning thereof in alignment with indicia on said templateindicative of the opposite end of said wall for properly locating theend of a board to be cut to provide said plate of the desired walllength.
 4. The wall frame prefabrication apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid positioning means for situating said pair of templates includes foreach of said templates a hair-line marker on said table alignable withindicia on its associated template.
 5. The wall frame prefabricationapparatus of claim 4 wherein holding means are provided for locking saidtemplates in position on said layout area.
 6. The wall frameprefabrication apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said pair offlexible tape templates having indicia along their lengthsrepresentative of a plurality of wall frames to be fabricated areflexible.
 7. The wall frame prefabrication apparatus of claim 6 whereineach of said flexible templates is metal and includes a curvature in itstransverse cross-section when flat which tends to maintain the templatein said flat condition but which is overcomeable for coiling of suchtemplate.
 8. The wall frame prefabrication apparatus of claim 7 whereinsaid means for advancing said templates over said layout area includesspools about which said templates are coilable at opposite ends of saidtable for holding and feeding each of said templates across said layoutarea for the successive location on said layout area of said indiciarepresentative of said plurality of wall frames.
 9. The wall frameprefabrication apparatus of claim 8 wherein said positioning means forsituating said templates includes for each of said templates a hair-linemarker on said table alignable with indicia on its associated template.10. The wall frame prefabrication apparatus of claim 9 wherein each ofsaid flexible templates passes over a micrometer adjustment wheelsecured to said table for providing accurate alignment of indicia oneach of said tapes with its associated hairline marker.
 11. The wallprefabrication apparatus of claim 10 wherein said lumber stop means isadjustably positionable along one of said templates and includes amarking straight-edge moveable therewith and located over positions fora plurality of plates for marking thereon the stud locations establishedby said indicia on said template.